2019 MCC Professional Development Conference

Annually, MCC hosts a professional development day in January that will focus on areas of interest to our members, including employer relations, internships, student employment, counseling, and administrative work.

Attendees will hear from our keynote speaker Farouk Dey, Vice Provost for Integrative Learning and Life Design at Johns Hopkins University, followed by concurrent sessions from their peers discussing issues and ideas to advance the industry.  To learn more about our keynote speaker Farouk Dey, please click here.

The 2019 MCC Professional Development Conference is scheduled for Friday, January 11, 2019 at Loyola University Maryland - Graduate Campus. MCC members and non-members are invited to register for this 1 day conference to hear from the keynote speaker and attend speed learning and roundtable discussions.

Registration for MCC Members is free. Non-MCC members are $75.00 per person.

Registration is now closed.

2019 MCC Professional Development Conference Attendee List

2019 MCC Professional Development Conference Schedule

Speed Learning Sessions

Session 1

Building a Partnership with Undergraduate Research
Presented by: Kacie Lawrence and Susan Hindle, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Susan Hindle and I will share how the UMBC Career Center has recently deepened our partnership with UMBC's Office of Undergraduate Research. Specifically, we have adapted our existing internship practicum to cater to the unique professional development needs of students conducting on-campus or student-led research. As part of this program, we collaborated with faculty across disciplines to create an orientation to the culture and expectations of on-campus research positions. We also conducted brief mid-semester reflections with student researchers and their faculty mentors, and we implemented end-of-semester evaluations that will measure students' growth in the NACE Career Competency areas. This partnership has brought the Career Center closer to the faculty, expanded our team's understanding of the research conducted at UMBC, and increased our institutional knowledge of students' applied learning experiences.

For good ideas and true innovation, you need human interaction, conflict, argument, debate. “ Margaret Heffernan
Learn strategies for understanding how conflict management intersects with NACE Career Readiness Competencies like communication, leadership, professionalism, and career management. We'll explore how the Thomas Kilman Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI) and its accompanying theoretical framework offer insight into conflict management styles, over- and under-use of styles, and the affect of conflict on productivity within the team. Learn how to tailor use of the TKI for specific populations, connect conflict management to competencies, and facilitate discussions through organizational change.

JHU's Homewood Career Center implemented an industry-focused Career Academy model in the 16-17 year. This year, we have introduced the Launch Program (studentaffairs.jhu.edu/Launch) to engage first-year students in self-assessment, career exploration, and foundational career development before they are prompted to identify with a Career Academy.

Join program coordinator Nadine Goldberg for an overview of the Launch Program, a preliminary look at how the program has impacted first-year engagement at JHU, and key lessons learned about working with first-year students.

Session 2

Resources for Advising Students on Post-Graduate Opportunities Abroad
Presented by: Elizabeth Davis and Dr. Manuel Ruiz, McDaniel College
Increasingly students are interested in living, volunteering, working, and/or studying in another country after they graduate.  In this session we will provide information and resources about post-graduation opportunities for students interested in going abroad.  We will discuss international opportunities such as Peace Corps, Fulbright, teaching English as a second language, and attending graduate school abroad.   Additionally, we will cover helpful advice to give students interested in such opportunities.

Virtual Reality Mock Interviews
Presented by: Keith Jones, Towson University 
Learn how the Towson University Career Center is leveraging Virtual Reality (VR) to help students practicing mock interviews. Review basic equipment hardware and software selection, configuration, and potential use cases. Discuss facility space requirements, safety considerations and signage, and developing a how-to guide. VR headset will be available for demonstration.

Supporting International Student Career Success
Presented by: Christine Routzahn and Chrisi Giannakaris, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
According to NACE's 2018 Job Outlook report, the percentage of employers hiring international students has hit a new low.  However, many career centers are seeing an increasing number of international students who are seeking job and internship opportunities within the US.  UMBC student feedback has made it very clear that career development and success are their highest priorities.  Many of our international students have career aspirations in the US, so we developed several initiatives to help them be as competitive as possible. 

Technical Internship Funding Available for Maryland Employers - How can you partner? 
Presented by: Annie Weinschenk, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
In July 2018, the Maryland Technology Internship Program (MTIP) House Bill 527 was passed in Maryland. MTIP offers financial assistance to technology-based businesses, as well as state and local agencies, to hire more interns. Over 90 employers have applied for the funding and 11 Maryland institutions are represented. Join Annie Weinschenk, the program lead to learn how you can help support this statewide initiative, employer partners and students.

Roundtable Sessions

Session 1

Career Communities: How to Develop and Launch Your Community
Facilitated by: Carrie Holzmeister and Kiran Kaur, Goucher College

Career Competencies
Facilitated by: Jim Dickinson, Loyola University

Working with Faculty
Facilitated by: Charlie Endicott, Salisbury University

Engaging First-Year Students in Career Exploration and Education "An ALL-IN Approach"
Facilitated by: Jenn Leard and Julie Elliott, Goucher College

Session 2

Career Communities: How to Improve and Expand Your Existing Community
Facilitated by: Cory Anderson and Matthew Smith, Towson University

Working with First-Generation Students
Facilitated by: Jen Spencer-Heilman, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Working with Alumni
Facilitated by: Lana Veres, University of Baltimore

Balancing Social Media and Social Justice: When Personal and Professional Intersect
Facilitated by: Andrea Wiseman, Johns Hopkins University